Hi, everyone! I'm a new member and very glad to be amongst you.
How long have you been drinking tea?
I've enjoyed tea casually for the past 20 years, but experienced a profound shift around two years ago after discovering Taiwanese oolongs and gongfu brewing.
What kind of tea do you drink?
Oolong is my favorite, with yancha at the top of the list: I'm absolutely in love with the minerality and rich aromas. I also enjoy sheng and shou puerh, aged white teas, and some dancong oolongs. In warmer weather, I gravitate toward lighter Taiwanese oolongs and green teas.
How do you prepare your tea?
I typically brew gongfu style, as I enjoy developing my skills to brew the finest cup of tea possible and creating a sense of ceremony. I also enjoy simple leaves in a bowl when appropriate, and also (the newest method for me) brewing bowl tea in a larger sidehandled pot.
What tea knowledge are you interested in exploring right now?
Right now I'm learning all I can about sidehandle pot brewing and history. I'm also keen to grow my skills (and palate) regarding matcha.
What factors lead you to delve into the world of tea, and what is keeping you there?
At first, it was the incredible aromas, flavors, and sense of ceremony that drew me in. All those factors still keep me deeply rooted in my tea practice, but I'm now happily trying new teas whenever possible, adding to my teaware collection, and immersing myself in the history of this beverage we all hold so dear.
What is your location?
Westchester, New York - just north of NYC
Looking forward to chatting with you!